Why loan words are not always a bad idea: rethinking linguistic purism in a literary sense

While linguistic purism questions and discourages the use of loan words, this paper argues that loan words are not inherently a linguistic flaw when viewed in a literary sense. Drawing on an analysis of selected isiZulu literary texts as primary data, the study demonstrates that loan words function not as linguistic or literary weaknesses but as stylistic devices that enhance the aesthetic value of literary works. The research is theoretically grounded in Halliday’s register theory and linguistic stylistics theory, as it seeks to illustrate how loan words create artistic effects while operating as markers of social identity and cultural exchange within a literary context. The findings reveal that loan words serve as instrumental stylistic resources. Given that authors are often challenged to render fiction both authentic and relatable, loan words, as an inevitable result of language contact, emerge as an effective strategy for showing how social and cultural reality is mirrored through fiction. The analysis of selected texts further indicates that loan words contribute significantly to the narrative structure, which is one of the significant components in fictional writing. They enhance the clarity and richness of content while simultaneously signalling the need for continued lexical development in the language.